Deepika Padukone's spokesperson has officially denied recent speculation that the actress is part of the upcoming film Brahmastra: Part Two – Dev. In a statement, the spokesperson said, “All recent reports of Deepika Padukone being a part of Brahmastra 2 or associated with the project in any capacity are untrue.”
The clarification arrives as the actress prepares for the birth of her second child. Padukone is currently in Bengaluru with her parents and daughter Dua, and is due in September. Before heading there, she reportedly completed major sequences for Atlee's Raaka. Her confirmed upcoming projects include King with Shah Rukh Khan and Raaka co-starring Allu Arjun.
Sequel Development Updates
Meanwhile, the Brahmastra sequel has been in the works for some time. In 2023, Ranbir Kapoor confirmed that the film is in active development. He said, “So Brahmastra 2 is heavy into writing. We are working on it all the time, it was just last week that Ayan narrated the film to me. Ayan has gone ten times bigger than part 1, his idea, his thought, the characters.” He added that Ayan Mukerji is currently working on War 2, with plans to finish it by mid-next year, then start shooting Brahmastra 2 by the end of next year or early the following year.
Kapoor also addressed criticism of the first film, noting, “We have really understood the kind of criticism we got for the film. What worked for it and what didn't work for it. So we want to put everything into consideration. From the dialogues or people saying that Shiva and Isha's chemistry was somewhere missing... There was a lot of criticism that was constructive so we are taking that into our stride.”
Background on the Franchise
Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva, released on September 9, 2022, earned over ₹400 crore worldwide. The film featured Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna, Mouni Roy, and Shah Rukh Khan in key roles. Padukone had a cameo as Amrita, Shiva's mother and Dev's wife, whose identity was kept a mystery. The sequel is expected to focus on Dev's character and his connection to the Brahmastra.
According to reports, Ayan and his team have been working on the scripting and pre-production, with Ranbir potentially shooting for the sequel in April 2027. Alia Bhatt, who played Isha in the first part, is expected to have a cameo, with a source indicating she may shoot for about 25 days. Early buzz suggested that the role of Dev might be offered to Ranveer Singh or Hrithik Roshan, but no official confirmation has been made. Amitabh Bachchan and Mouni Roy are expected to reprise their roles as Guruji and Junoon, respectively.
Padukone's Current Projects
Beyond the denial, reports indicate Padukone will play a pregnant woman in Raaka, with Rashmika Mandanna said to have a crucial role. Her part in King, directed by Siddharth Anand, remains under wraps, though she was seen filming a dance sequence with Shah Rukh Khan in South Africa. The gangster drama is scheduled for release on December 24.